2023-11-08 21:26:39
The various organizations that defend patients’ rights have expressed serious concerns since the tabling of Bill 15, fearing the abolition of a large number of user committees as well as a loss of influence in the network. After months of work and discussions, they breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday morning.
As part of the detailed study of the bill aimed at making the health and social services system more efficient, parliamentarians adopted the final version of several articles concerning the supervision of user committees.
Ultimately, all existing committees will be renewed the day following the adoption of the reform led by Minister Christian Dubé.
In addition, the committees will no longer be subject to rules imposed by the future state corporation Santé Québec. Each committee will be sovereign in its governance. However, a national committee will be created to make recommendations to senior management at Santé Québec, but it will be made up of members of local user committees.
The Provincial Grouping of User Committees (RPCU) was obviously delighted with the preservation of the current committees. “This means that the voice of users will continue to be heard, in all establishments across Quebec and for all missions,” we can read in a press release sent Wednesday followingnoon.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, the general director of the RPCU, Sylvie Tremblay, insisted on the fact that these gains were obtained following “long-term work” and “hard work”. She recalls that initially, the number of committees was to fall from more than 500 to less than a hundred.
She therefore says she is very happy with the result obtained following numerous discussions described as “arduous” with the office of the Minister of Health and Social Services.
“I think the minister understood that in everything that comes next, the government has no interest in losing the user committees because they are the voice and the ears of the users,” he believes. She.
Another gain highlighted by the RPCU, caregivers will be able to be elected to be part of user committees or resident committees in the establishment where their loved one is cared for.
Not completely satisfied
On the side of the Council for the Protection of the Sick (CPM), the president and CEO, Mr.e Paul G. Brunet says there is still a way to go. After having obtained that a seat on the establishment board be reserved for a member of the users committee, he would also like a place to be reserved for them on the risk management committees.
“These committees are very important because they manage several files, including the systemic nature of certain management issues or complaints, reports on complaints. It takes people from user committees on this, not just health professionals,” he argues.
The CPM also hopes to reduce the processing time for complaints that do not concern clinical procedures. The 45 day period might be reduced to 15 days. “You complain regarding the food and you have to wait 45 days, it’s ridiculous. We have to change that,” summarizes Me Brunet.
From anger to relief
Despite the favorable outcome, Sylvie Tremblay does not hide the fact that members of the RPCU and other organizations were downright angry when the first version of Bill 15 was tabled.
“We were angry at not understanding and not relying on the fact that the system is there for users and that their rights must be defended,” she confides.
However, the community sector rolled up its sleeves to make its point of view understood to the minister and the ministry’s lawyers.
“At the end of the process, we are surprised that we had to fight to get there. The minister was open, but through the different versions over the summer, there were no big differences,” she says, thanking the opposition parties for their support throughout the process.
Same observation for Me Paul G. Brunet, who was surprised by the speed with which everything happened over the last few days. He says he has the impression that the government has been taken with a sudden desire to listen to patients.
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